Senators Baldwin, Portman Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Taxpayer-Funded Inventions Are Made in America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced the bipartisan Invent Here, Make Here for Homeland Security Act to ensure that products invented by taxpayer-funded research are manufactured in the United States. While current law requires the manufacturing of products stemming from federally funded research to be made in the U.S., the requirement is routinely waived for products to be manufactured overseas. The legislation would require any waivers to be issued in accordance with the new Buy America reporting requirements passed in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“To me, it is simple: If American taxpayers funding the research that leads to an invention, American manufacturers should be making the products,” said Senator Baldwin. “Building on our Buy America standards we championed in the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, our Invent Here, Make Here Act will create and sustain good paying jobs here at home and ensure that the high-tech products are Made in America."

“When the government spends American taxpayer money on inventing a product, it’s common sense that product should be made in America and not by our adversaries,” said Senator Portman. “This bipartisan legislation will work in accordance with the Buy America reporting requirements I authored in the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act to ensure that coming infrastructure projects across America use American-made iron, steel, and manufactured products.”

The legislation specifically addresses the products invented as a result of funding provided by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T). The Invent Here, Make Here for Homeland Security Act would also prohibit these taxpayer-funded inventions from being manufactured in foreign countries like China, North Korea, Iran, or Russia.

Full text of the legislation is available here.

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